Luke 20:20-26 Give To God What Is God's

Luke 20:20-26 NIV
The summer property tax bills are coming in. Earlier this month, I paid our Estimated Federal and State taxes. Over the course of a year, I write at least ten checks to cover some kind of tax and that is not even considering all the taxes that are paid at the cash registers. I'm not complaining, just stating the facts. We owe them, so we pay them. After all, it is God who establishes governing authorities. "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established." (Rom 13:1) 

If we are "to give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's," then what is it that we are give to God? What then belongs to God? According to Malachi 2:15: "Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit." Would it not then follow that if we belong to God that we should give ourselves wholly to Him?

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 20:9-19 Inheritance Through Faith Alone

Luke 20:9-19 NIV
The tenants refused to give a portion of their harvest to the landlord to pay the rent. They assaulted the collection agents, so the landlord sent his son thinking they might respect his son. Yeah, right! They rejected the son, too. They killed the son! They killed him thinking that they would then receive the land as their inheritance. It just doesn't work that way.

God sent many prophets to help guide the people in loving and serving the Lord. They didn't want to hear it. They wanted what they wanted. They killed the prophets. God sent his only begotten Son. We killed him, too. Rejecting the Son doesn't get us what we want. It doesn't earn us any inheritance. In the end, anyone who rejects the Son will be crushed.

There is only one way to the Kingdom of God, into the inheritance promised by the Father through the Son and that is by grace alone through faith alone.

God's Peace - Pr. J 

Luke 20:1-8 Answering Questions

Luke 20:1-8 NIV
Years ago, I worked for an insurance company. My boss liked to get more personal than I thought he ought to. Whenever he asked me a personal question, I responded with a counter question. I didn't even realize I did this until he pointed out my habit of answering questions with questions. It came naturally. I didn't plan my responses. I guess it may have been a way to protect myself, my privacy.

Jesus' responses were not always direct answers to questions, either. He skirted the questions. In Luke 20 we hear him ask a question in response to a question that the priests and teachers of the law had asked as they tried to back him into a corner. They wanted to know by what authority he did the things he was doing. "He replied, 'I will also ask you a question. Tell me:  John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin?'” (vs 3-4)

The priests and teachers of the law could not answer Jesus' question. No matter how they answered, they, themselves, would be in trouble with someone, so they simply answered "we don't know." (vs 7)

Answering questions with questions will sometimes end the conversation when we are being grilled about something that is simply not for the other person to know. Sometimes, the best answer is "I don't know." The truth is we don't know a lot of things. There is nothing wrong in admitting that truth.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 19:28-46 Peace Not Drama

Luke 10:28-46 NIV
There are days when I accomplish much less than I would like to. There are some things that just wear me out faster than others. One being "drama." No matter how large or small, everything seems so dramatically enhanced in the lives of many people around me. Little problems, little lies, and sneak attacks turn into big problems, big lies, big drama.

The Pharisees seemed to love drama, as well. They were always stirring up trouble, even if they tried to do it discretely without discrediting themselves. Their drama and ours just disrupts the peace that Jesus brings. So much drama! So much chaos! In spite of the fact that we cry out for help; we keep stepping right back into the drama. Same old... Same old... No, need for change...

Well, actually there is. That is, if you are really tired of the drama then the "same old" isn't going to get it. There is a way that leads to peace. In fact, the God of peace has come to you. Recognize His coming; His presence with you. Live in the peace of God. Cling to His Word. Walk through the door into the Kingdom that has been opened for you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 19:11-27 Stewards of God's Gifts

Luke 19:11-27 NIV
Today we have one of my favorite stewardship lessons. Those who take care of and use wisely the gifts that they have been entrusted with will be given even more responsibility regarding the gifts. Everything that we think we own does belong to God. He gives good gifts. He can multiply them or He can take them away. Use what your gifts wisely that our Father in heaven is glorified.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 19:1-10 Come Down From Your Tree

Luke 19:1-10 NIV
"Zacchaeus was a wee little man." I have no clue how many children I have taught the words of this song to; too many to count. Personally, I prefer the words from the KJV over the NIV, "And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature." (vs 3)

Zacchaeus was of little stature not only in physical height; but, in social stature as well. He was a tax collector and had made himself wealthy by cheating his own people. Therefore, he was not a popular fellow. No one in the crowd that day was going to move out of his way so that he could see Jesus so he climbed a tree to get a look from a distance. Jesus knew of his desire to see him and so he arranged to make it up front and personal. He told Zacchaeus: "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." Today, (and every day) Jesus wants to be welcomed into your home. If you want to see Jesus, just climb down from whatever tree that you've chosen to watch Jesus from and welcome Him into your life.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 18:35-43 That You Might See Jesus

Luke 18:35-43 NIV
What did the blind man see when Jesus healed his sight? Why, he saw Jesus, of course. He saw Jesus and followed him.

My list of people who I pray might see Jesus is pretty long at the present time. So many people in trouble and pain. So much of it simply because they cannot see Jesus and do not know Him. I pray that their eyes might be opened so that they might see him and follow him; that they might be healed. Some of them, I have been praying decades for; others, not so long. But, the prayer is pretty much the same for all: that they might hear the Word; see Him and, in faith, follow Him into the light of His love.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 18:31-34 Do You Get It?

Luke 18:31-34 NIV
I don't know if you've noticed; but, the disciples often didn't understand what Jesus was talking about. He had to explain things to them in more detail and even then sometimes they didn't really get it. Some of us still have that problem today. Sometimes we have to actually experience something to really understand it. We endure many things before we completely understand things like empathy; even before we can know what really love, joy or peace is. 

Today, we read that Jesus tells the disciples about his impending execution and resurrection. The disciples don't quite get it. But, they will; once he has risen from the dead.

He is risen! He is risen for you! Do you get it?

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 18:15-30 Get Rid of the Baggage

Luke 18:15-30 NIV
According to Jesus, the way to enter the kingdom of God would be like a little child. That would be unencumbered by the riches of the world; free of all the baggage that we pick up in this world. A little child owns nothing (although some of them think they do). Get rid of the baggage and follow Him into the Kingdom. You cannot get into the kingdom carrying all of your stuff in packs on your back. It would be like a pack camel fully loaded trying to get through the eye of needle. Some have surmised that this "eye of the needle" refers to a very narrow gate in Jerusalem.

Leave the stuff behind you, your sins have been washed away by the blood of the lamb, that you might walk freely and unencumbered through the gate into the eternal kingdom.

God's Peace - Pr. J